Art Smitten - The Podcast

Silvi and Christina chat to film director Ivan Hexter about his work on Tunnel Vision, a new documentary about the protests against the East West Link, Tunnel screening with Secret Matters at Cinema Nova (380 Lygon St, Carlton), 5pm on Sunday July 16, as part of the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christian chats to Johanna B Kelly, director of The Gateway Bug, a film about the benefits of an insect diet, screening as part of the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival on Sunday July 16, 3pm at Cinema Nova (380 Lygon St, Carlton).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christian chats to director/producer Fiona Cochrane about her new film 25 Tracks, about 2 musicians who set out to release 1 song every fortnight for a year, screening in the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival on Saturday July 15, 6.15pm at Long Play (318 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christina and Thierry chat to Open House Executive Director Emma Telfer about working with the Australian Centre for the Moving Image on the 'What Would Jane Do?’ running for the rest of July.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christian chats to Russ Vickery and Matthew Parsons about their Melbourne premier season of My Other Closet, The Cabaret, a show based on Russ' experiences with domestic violence in a queer relationship, on from July 15-28 at Bella Union, 54 Victoria St, Carlton South.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christians chats to Elysia Zeccola, director of the 2017 Scandinavian Film Festival, travelling around the nation from July 11 to August 6.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Playing on their egos of Fran and Yetta, Lauren Edwards and Jude Perl created a dynamic cabaret show that celebrated a decade of television history, the 90s. Yada Yada Yada took its name from the Seinfeld episode in which George gets suspicious of his new girlfriend’s use of the term. There are a few of these Easter eggs scattered throughout the show. The premise follows a knock off Fran and Yetta filming a 90s Television Special. The two performers did an array of sitcom medleys and original songs. Particular songs, like Cheers, made you join in with the two in wishing that we could live life in a 90s Sitcom. There was talk of favourite heart throbs, social roles of older women, the stereotype of Jewish grandmas and audience trivia. The show felt difficult to get into as the humour was very particular to the sitcom style. A laughing track was implemented and banter between the two was undeniable. However, songs such as "Roles for Older Women" provided that much needed commentary and flavour of the two

Silvi and Christina chat to Janice Muller, ​​​director of the Malthouse Theatre's Australian premier production of Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.​ running until July 9.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christina and Thierry chat to Narda Shanley, CEO of St Martin's Youth Arts Centre, about Banjo's, Boots & Beyonce (a different kind of bush dance), on from 6 – 8 July at The Substation, 1 Market Street Newport.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At La Mama Theatre in Carlton on Wednesday night I got to experience a moving and powerful physical theatre piece called (De)construct. Directed by Cera Maree Brown, (de)construct explores themes of identity, social anxiety, language, gender, sexuality and living from home. Based on recorded conversations between the performers, the honesty and depth to the opinions voiced struck a chord of familiarity in the audience as the different situations were played out. (de)construct begins with a movement piece, gradually building in intensity and speed before following in to a deep conversation as Jai Leeworthy, Lucy Pitt, Nabs Adnam, and Antonia Yip Side Pin recount their own experiences and tell their stories. This was accompanied with what they were saying displayed behind them, leading to the audience not knowing what was script and was was reality. The conversation was overplayed with movement which displayed the subtext of the words being said. Words saying they were doing well were contrasted with the actors

Christina and Thierry chat to Madeleine Featherby about playing Helen (of Troy) in PARIS - A Rock Odyssey, running from July 13-15 at the  Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christina and Thierry chat to Tyran Parke about directing Lyric Opera’s production of The Coronation of Poppea, on from July 15-22 at Chapel off Chapel (12 Little Chapel St, Prahran).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wallace & Gromit and Friends and their talented creators have just arrived at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Aardman Animations. Running until October 29 this latest of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces is a virtually exhaustive exhibition of the company's entire body of work, including their next feature film, Early Man, coming out early next year. Visiting Aardman founders and co-curators, Peter Lord and David Sproxton, working very closely with ACMI head curator Fiona Trigg and the Art Ludique museum in Paris, have delivered a generous serving of early sketches, concept art, original models, plasticine sets and, of course, the plasticine characters themselves! I was fortunate enough to hear Peter and David's brilliant introduction to the exhibition and to chat to Fiona about what it was like to put it all together. All the favourites are there of course: there’s plenty to see of the famous bumbling inventor and his long-suffering dog, s

Smithers reviews the new circus show that runs from June 20-July 16 at the Big Top in Birrarung Marr (between Federation Square and Batman Avenue).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Silvi chats to cabaret performer Tash York about her new show, Adulting, playing at the Butterfly Club (5 Carson Pl, off Lt Collins) from July 11-16 as part of the Cabaret Fringe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack interviews Liam McGorry, founding member of Dorsal Fins, about the nine-piece band’s upcoming gig at the first Melbourne Museum – Nocturnal event, happening Friday July 7, 6-11pm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christina and Silvi chat to cabaret performer Britni Leslie about her new show at the Butterfly Club, Bourbon St to Broadway.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew reviews Julie Andrews’ 60th Anniversary production of My Fair Lady, now playing at the Regent Theatre until July 29.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

London Comedy Duo Roulston and Young come straight from the Adelaide Cabaret Festival to Melbourne’s Butterfly Club, to deliver an hour of upbeat laughs and jabs at relationships on a frosty Melbourne night. The first song lets you know what you’re in for, an upbeat formula with plenty of witty banter between hosts and invitations to the audience to join in the wink-winking and nudge-nudging. The audience that this reviewer was a part of were only too happy to oblige, a lively oneindeed. From there, Roulston and Young travel through lovers past and present, dancing between awkwardness and laughter, stopping for breath only to invite the audience to chat and join in on the stories. While interactive is probably the wrong word to exercise here, it certainly felt involved and it ushers everything in with a warm solidarity. Songs explored everything from one-night stands with people half their age, vegging out in front of Deal or No Deal re-runs with a box of tim-tams, and crowd favourite ‘Pleas

Christian chats to musical theatre performer Nelson Gardner about playing the part of Charley in Watch This’ production of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, running from June 29 – July 15 at Southbank Theatre, 140 Southbank Boulevard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.